Flue cleaner



April 2s, 1925. 1,535,115

W. W. EVANS FLUE CLEANER FiledJu-e 5. 1922' Mi'llll -INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM W. EVANS, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

FLUE CLEANER.

Application filed .Tune 5,

To ZZ whomy it 'may conce/1112.7.'

Be .it known that I, VILLnlisr 1V. Evans, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Flue Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tools for cleaning fines of boilers and has for its yobject to pro vide a device that is simple in construction, easy to operate and one whereby soot and other foreign matter may be thoroughly removed from the fines of the boiler'.

rl`he invention further contemplates the provision of a flue cleanerl in which the possibility of the same becoming jammed in the Hue during the cleaning operation is greatly diminished.

These objects and others which will be apparent I accomplish with the device shown in the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate `like parts throughout the several views and as described in the specification forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal section illustrating my flue cleaning device and the arrangement of the parts with respect to veach other. Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the cleaning blades. Figure :l is a plan view of one of the breaker blades.

My invention comprises the breaker blades and cleaning blades, each of which are used in pairs and staggered in re'ation to each other in the circumferential direction of the device and between each pair of cleaning blades or each pair of breaker blades, the spacing sleeves are interposed and all of the breaker blades, cleaning blades and sleeves are operatively held in relation to each other on the bolt or shaft of my device. In cleaning fines it is sometimes advantageous to reA move the cleaning blades and use only the breaker blades` any number of which may be provided and all used in staggered relation to each other. forming a spiral in their general assembly. and the completed device, whether carrying the breaker blades or the cleaning' blades, is to be run through the dues. The outer edge of both the breaker blades and the cleaning blades are cut as a segment of a circle, corresponding with the inner face of the line. The blades are of thin spring steel. and in forcing the device through the [lues the segment-cut-ends of thc 1922. Serin No. 565,970.

blades come in contact with the inner surface of the flue and sc ape and break from the inner surface of the flue any accumulation of soot, rust or other' matter. The staggered relation of the different blades is in order that the blades may operate similar to the teeth of a screw when the device is moved longitudinally yback and forth in the flue. The various elements of the device are arranged on a bolt 1 having a square head and externally threaded on the opposite end. A segment of the bolt is cut away as at l1 to form a flat bearing surface and the breaker blades and cleaning blades have a centrally disposed hole, circular in general aspect, but the circle is not completed in one portion thereof to conform to the flat sur face of the bolt l. I provide a convex guide ring Il adjacent the head of the bolt l for the purpose of directing and guiding the device into the flue. Preferably I next place on the said bolt 1 one of the spacer sleeves 2, and then next in order one of the breaker blades 3 and adjacent that another breaker blade in which the flattened part of the circle is changed or modified so that the second breaker blade fl will assume a different position as to the bolt and other breaker blade, giving the staggered effect. I then place on said bolt another one of the spacer sleeves Q. and next in order, another pair of breaker blades 5%, likewise staggered in relation to each other and to the first pair of breaker blades by the position of the flattened portion of the holeA 5 therein. Preferably I then use a spacer sleeve 2', somewhat longer than the spacer sleeves 2 and loosely carried on said spacer sleeve 2 is the cleaning washer 6 of smaller diameter than the breaker blades 3 and, which is a fiat washer having a central opening therein some what larger than the diameter of the spacer sleeve 2 in order that said washer may be free to move laterally as to the bolt 1 and spacer sleeve 2. lllhen in use said washer the sweeping means for carrying out the soot and other matter that the breaker blades and cleaning blades break loose. Next in order I jjn'efer to use another pair of staggered breaker blades. and between said breaker blades and another pair of breaker blades I provide another of the spacer sleeves 2. and on the opposite side of thc last pair of breaker blades another spacer sleeve, and screwed on said bolt and against the last mentioned spacer sleeve is the collar 8. I

then provide a coneavo-convex guard 9 internally threaded and screwed on the threads of the bolt l. The guard 9 extends purposely beyond the end of the said bolt l, providing an internally threaded hole shown at l0, wit-hin which I screw the handle of my device.

In the operation of my device, the narrowed ends of the breaker blades, which are the first elementintroduced into the line oi' suiiieient diametrical length to scrape the flue, will break down and remove from the wall of the flue the soot which will be earried out by the washer 6. The cleaning blades and the sweeping rlngs will clean the remaining portion of the soot and sweep it from the ue, performing the ur- 1 ther process of cleaning. In the operation sume a position and engage the inner surtace ot' the line, thus cleaning out any dislodged soot, and my device will not only loosen the soot but will also sweep 1t from the flue after it is loosened.

` two forms or' blades o After using the breaker blades with the annular washer (i to break down and remove some ot' the soot, I preferably reassemble the cleaner by changing the breaker blades and using the cleaner blades Ll to thoroughly clean the interior of the Hue. The cleaner blades 4f are assembled and spaced in pairs by the spacci' sleeves 2, in the same manner as the breaker blades 3. As willbe obvious it it is so desired, the

l and 4 may be associated and assembled b y using breaker blades adjacent the collar B; then a sleeve spacer 2; then a pair of cleaning blades with the sleeve washer 2 and washer carried i thereon; then another pair of cleaning blades spaced from the iinal or end pair of breaker blades held in place by the collarS and .guide member 9.

To prolong the life of my cleaner, I provide eXtra breaker blades and cleaning blades to replace dull or defective ones when desired.

Having described my invention and its use I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim y l. In a device of the class described the combination of a headed bolt with a flat surface on one side of the shank thereof; a guide collar adjacent the head Vof the bolt; breaker blades having a circular opening in each with a flattened portion corresponding to the flattened fl'ace or' the bolt; and staggered in relation to each other; spacing sleeves carried on said bolt to space other breaker blades likewise staggered in relation to each other and carried on said bolt; a sweeping washer loosely carried medially on said bolt and or' smaller diameter than the breaker blades, a sweeping collar ot concave-convex form carried on said bolt; with an internally threaded opening therein to receive the thread of a handle.Y

2. A flue cleaner comprising a headed bolt with a flat surface on one side of the shank thereof; a guide collar adjacent the head ot' the bolt; blades having a circular opening in each with a `flattened portion corresponding to the flattened portion of the bolt, and staggered in relation to each other; spacing sleeves carried on said bolt to space other blades likewise staggered in relation to each other and carried on said bolt; a sweeping washer loosely carried medially on said bolt and of smaller diameter than the breaker blades; and a sweeping collar guard internally threaded to be screwed on said bolt to hold the said blades in place and to provide a threaded opening for the handle oi the device.

In testimony whereoi I have affixed my signature.

WILLIAM W. EVANS. 

